Conductor support



Dec. 20, 1960 rrs 2,965,701

CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Filed March 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fl/MRYZ. A: r551 MM;

gTfOP/VEKSZ- Dec. 20, 1960 H. L. KITSELMAN 2,955,701

CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Filed March 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR. jZfl/PR/Z. Mrsamw.

H 7' TOP/V15 7.5.

United States Patent CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Harry L. Kitselman, Muncie, Ind., assignor to Indiana Steel & Wire Company, Inc., Muncie, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Mar. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 647,109

13 Claims. (Cl. 174-164) This invention relates to means for connecting an electrical line conductor to a support and for reinforcing the conductor at and adjacent the point of support to prevent localization of stresses and reduce the danger of breakage. The invention is especially adapted for, although not limited to, use in association with single wires and other light-weight conductors.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a conductor-supporting and reinforcing means which requires no tie-wire or clamp to connect it to a pole or other support and which will eliminate the necessity for the customary insulator.

An attaching device in accordance with my invention is conveniently formed of hard steel wire and includes a body portion preformed into a relatively longpitch helix and a connecting portion extending laterally from one end of such body portion for attachment to a support. The helical body portion has a pitch such that it may be wrapped manually about the conductor to be supported and a diameter such that it will grip the conductor when applied thereto. The laterally projecting end or connecting portion of the device may be straight and adapted to enter a hole in a support, such as a pole or cross-arm.

Devices of the type just referred to will usually be employed in pairs, with the body portions of the devices of each pair extending along the conductor in opposite directions from the point of the support. In some instances, it may be desirable to increase the reinforcing action by employing at each point of support two pairs of devices with the helical turns of one pair extending along and around the conductor approximately midway between the turns of the other pair. In another arrangement for augmenting the reinforcing action provided by a single pair of devices, a helically preformed element may embrace the conductor, extending therealong, without connection to the support, from one side thereof to the other, the turns of the supplemental reinforcement being located between turns of the supporting devices themselves.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of supporting devices arranged to support a line conductor from a pole;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view illustrating two pairs of supporting devices supporting a line conductor from a cross-arm;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a transposition point where two pairs of supporting devices support two crossing line conductors from a cross-arm;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 4 in which a pair of supporting devices is supplemented by a reinforcement not connected to the supporting cross-arm; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified arrangement for securing supporting devices to a crossarm.

vtial continuity of the reinforcing action.

2,965,701 Patented Dec. 20, 1960 In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, a pair of my supporting devices is employed to support a line conductor 10 from a pole 11. The two supporting devices are made of hard wire and may be identical, each comprising a body portion 12 preformed into a helix of such internal diameter as to grip the conductor when in place thereon and of such pitch that it may be readily applied to the conductor by wrapping thereabout. Line-conductor reinforcements having helical portions of this type are not new with me.

In accordance with my invention as embodied in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, one end portion of the wire from which each device is formed is bent to provide a leg 13 extending at an acute angle to the axis of the body portion, the legs 13 being adapted to be received in holes drilled horizontally in the poles 11. Viewed in horizontal plan or section, the holes in the poles 11 cross each other at such an angle that with the legs 13 in the holes the body portions 12 of the two devices may be brought into substantial alignment.

In employing the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, the pole is drilled and the legs 13 inserted into the drilled holes, following which the body portions 12 are brought into alignment with each other beside the conductor 11 and wrapped thereabout. Once the body portions 12 are applied to the line conductor, the conductor is firmly connected to the pole, since the legs 13 are disposed in non-parallel relationship, thus preventing their simultaneous withdrawal from the holes in the pole. The fact that each leg is bent at an acute angle to its associated body portion 12 makes it possible for the two devices to cross each other at the line conductor, thus insuring a con tinuity, longitudinally of the conductor, of the reinforcement which the two devices provide.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, a line conductor 20 is to be supported from a cross-arm 21. As before, each device embodies a helically preformed body portion 22 from one end of which there projects laterally a leg 23 adapted to enter a vertical hole in the cross-arm 21. In this instance, four of the devices are used to reinforce the line conductor 20 at each point of support. Two of these devices, designated A and B, extend along the conductor 20 in one direction from the supporting cross-arm 21, while the other two, designated C and D, extend in the opposite direction along the conductor. The holes in the cross-arm 21 which receive the legs 23 of the devices A and B are desirably located in a common vertical plane parallel to the conductor 20 but offset longitudinally of the cross-arm 21 from the conductor, while the holes which receive the legs 23 of the devices C and D are offset longitudinally of the cross-arm in the opposite direction from the vertical plane of the conductor. The holes receiving the legs of the devices A and B are desirably spaced apart longitudinally of the conductor by a distance approximately equal to one-half the pitch of the helixes, so that the respective turns of the devices A and B will lie on opposite sides of the conductor. The holes which receive the legs of the devices C and D are similarly spaced for the same reason.

Desirably, two oppositely disposed devices, shown as B and C, cross at the conductor 20 to provide a substan- The spread of the legs 23 along the cross-arm, provides a truss-like arrangement which is effective in preventing displacement of the conductor longitudinally of the cross-arm even though the legs 23 are long enough to support the conductor at a substantial distance from the cross-arm.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an arrangement of supporting devices suitable for use at a point where a pair of adjacent conductors are to be transposed. Here, the conductor 20, constituting one of the pair, is shown as supported from the cross-arm 21 through the use of two devices B and C such as are illustrated in Fig. 2. The other conductor of the pair, designated 30 in Figs. 4 and 5, passes between the legs 23 of the devices B and C and is supported from the cross-arm by devices E and F. The latter devices resemble the devices B and C in including conductorembracing, preformed helical portions 32, but the legs 33 which project laterally from the preformed helical portions 32 are shorter than the legs 23 of the devices B and C, thus maintaining a substantial spacing between the two conductors 20 and 30.

Fig. 6 illustrates an arrangement providing for the conductor 30 a reinforcement in addition to that provided by supporting devices such as have been previously described. In this instance, the conductor 30 is shown as supported from the cross-arm through the medium of devices E and F such as are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The additional reinforcement is provided by a reinforcing member 40, which is conveniently formed of hard steel wire and preformed throughout its length into a helix having substantially the same internal diameter and pitch as characterizes the helically preformed portions 32 of the devices E and F. After the conductor 30 has been connected to the cross-arm 31 by the application of the devices E and F, the reinforcing member is passed between the legs 33 of the devices E and F and applied to the conductor 30 in the same manner as were the helically preformed portions 32, the turns of the reinforcing member 40 lying between adjacent turns of each of the devices E and F. The length of the reinforcing element 40 is immaterial, and it may extend beyond the end of a helically preformed element 32, as indicated at the right in Fig. 6, or a helically preformed element 32 may extend beyond the end of the reinforcing element, as shown at the left in Fig. 6.

In employing the supporting devices shown in Figs. 2 through 6, the legs 23 or 33 of the devices are inserted through appropriately located openings in the cross-arms 21, and the helically preformed portions are then wrapped about the conductor. To insure that the conductorsupporting devices cannot be withdrawn from association with the cross-arm, they may extend completely therethrough and have their ends bent substantially at right angles, as indicated at 45.

While the arrangements of Figs. 2 to 6 are shown as supporting the line conductors above the cross-arm, it will be obvious that they are equally adaptable to the support of wires passing beneath the cross-arm. In Fig. 7, I have shown a modified arrangement for supporting a conductor 50 below the cross-arm. In that arrangement, each of a pair of supporting devices embodies a preformed helical conductor-embracing portion 52 and a leg 53 which extends transversely therefrom and the end portion 54 of which is bent to project in parallel relation to the helix 52. In using such devices, the cross-arm 21 is provided with a hole 55 extending transversely through it. The ends 54 of a pair of supporting devices are inserted into opposite ends of such hole, and the helical portions of the two devices are then applied to the conductor.

In each of the devices shown in the drawing, an insulating coating is applied over the helically preformed portion and for a distance along the laterally projecting leg 13, 23, 33, or 53, but the end portions of such legs are left bare over the extent to which they are received in the holes in the supporting pole 11 or cross-arm 21.,v The absence of coating from the ends of the legs 13, 23, 33, and 53. however, is not essential. The coating applied to the wire may be of any suitable electrically insulating material, but preferably is sufficiently elastic to prevent its cracking when the helically preformed portions are applied to the conductor. Such coating eliminates the necessity for the glass or porcelain insulators commonly used in supporting conductors.

In any of the devices illustrated, the length of. the covered portions of the legs 13, 23, 33, or 53 may be determined with regard to voltages in order to insure a leakage path of adequate length between the conductor and the supporting pole or cross-arm. When voltages are low, considerations of cost and convenience point to the desirability of relatively short legs, such as those characterizing the devices E and F shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a line conductor and a support therefor, a pair of devices for connecting said conductor to'said support, each of said devices comprising a length of wire embodying a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a leg projecting laterally from one end of said helix, said support being provided with a pair of spaced openings in which the legs of said devices are received, said openings and devices being so disposed that the two helixes partially overlap each other along the conductor, the helix of each of said devices being capable of substantial elastic deformation manually, whereby it may be applied to the conductor by disposing it and the conductor in side-by-side relation and wrapping the helix about and into tight gripping engagement with the conductor.

2. In combination with a line conductor and a support therefor, a pair of devices for connecting said conductor to said support, each of said devices comprising a length of wire embodying a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a leg projecting laterally from one end of said helix, said support being provided with a pair of spaced openings in which the legs are of said devices are received, the helix of each of said devices being capable of substantial elastic deformation manually, whereby it may be applied to the conductor by disposing it and the conductor in side-by-side relation and wrapping the helix about and into tight gripping engagement with the conductor.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 with the addition that the leg-receiving openings are disposed at an angle to each other.

4. In combination, a line conductor, a support therefor, and a device for connecting said conductor to said support, said device comprising a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a leg projecting laterally from one end of said helix, said support having an opening in which said leg is received, the angle between the axis of said opening and the aXis of said helix being substantially different from a right angle whereby said leg, in passing into or out of said opening, will move in a direction having a substantial component longitudinal of the axis of the helix.

5. In combination, a line conductor, a support therefor, and a device for connecting said conductor to said support, said device comprising a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a leg projecting laterally from one end of said helix, said support having an opening in which said leg is received, said helix being capable of substantial elastic deformation manually, whereby it may be applied to the conductor by disposing it and the conductor in side-by-side relation and wrapping the helix about and into tight gripping engagement with the conductor.

6. The combination of claim 5 with the addition that said device is formed of wire having a sheath of insulating material covering the wire of said helix and at least a portion of said leg, that portion of the leg which is received in said opening being bare.

7. The combination of claim Swith the addition that said device is'formed' of wire having a sheath of insulating material covering the wire of said helix and at least a portion of said leg.

8. In combination with a line conductor and a support therefor, a pair of devices for connecting said conductor to said support, each of said devices comprising a length of wire'embodying a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a leg projecting laterally from one end of said helix, the helixes of each device having substantially the same pitch, said support being provided with a pair of spaced openings in which the legs of said devices are received, the helixes of said two devices extending from their respective legs in the same direction along the conductor, said openings being so disposed longitudinally of the conductor that the turns of one helix are located approximately midway between the turns of the other helix.

9. In combination with a line conductor and a support therefor, a pair of devices for connecting said conductor to said support, each of said devices comprising a length of wire embodying a preformed helix coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a part which projects laterally from said helix and is secured to said support, said helixes having portions which are coextensive along the wire and so relatively located that the turns of the respective coextensive portions lie approximately midway between each other.

10. In combination with a line conductor and a support therefor, a pair of devices for connecting said conductor to said support, each of said devices comprising a length of wire embodying a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a leg projecting laterally from one end of said helix, each of said legs extending into an opening provided in said support, said helixes extending from their respective legs in opposite directions along the conductor and having portions adjacent the legs which overlap each other longitudinally of the conductor, the helix of each of said devices being capable of substantial elastic deformation manually, whereby it may be applied to the conductor by disposing it and the conductor in side-by-side relation and wrapping the helix about and into tight gripping engagement with the conductor.

11. In combination with a line conductor and a support therefor, a pair of devices for connecting said conductor to said support, each of said devices comprising a length of wire embodying a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a leg projecting laterally from one end of said helix, each of said legs extending into an opening provided in said support, the helix of each of said devices being capable of substantial elastic deformation manually, whereby it may be applied to the conductor by disposing it and the conductor in side-by-side relation and wrapping the helix about and into tight gripping engagement with the conductor.

12. The combination of claim 11 with the addition that said support is an elongated member extending transversely to the conductor, said opening extending through the support and the legs of said two devices being received in opposite ends of said opening.

13. In combination with a line conductor and a support therefor, a pair of devices for connecting said conductor to said support, each of said devices comprising a length of wire embodying a preformed helix of coarse pitch tightly embracing the conductor and a part which projects laterally from one end of said helix and is secured to said support, said helixes extending from their respective projecting parts in opposite directions along the conductor, and a reinforcing element comprising a preformed helix tightly embracing the conductor and at least partially coextensive therealong with the helixes of both said devices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 946,848 Orr Ian. 18, 1910 2,202,538 Selquist May 28, 1940 2,230,611 Coflin et a1. Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent N01. 2,965,701 December 20, I960 Harry L. Kitselman Column 4, line 30, strike out "are"; column 5, line 13, for "helix coarse read helix of coarse Signed and sealed this 6th day of June 1961 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORECTIUN Patent No. 2,965,701 I December 2O 1960 Harry L. Kitselman It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as Column 4, line 30, strike out "are"; column 5 line 13, for "helix coarse" read helix of coarse Signed and sealed this 6th day of June 1961:.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

